Reversing mechanism for electrically-operated washing-machines.



J. W. CAVANAGH.

REVERSING MECHANISM. FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED WASHING MACHINES.

I APPLICATION men 0cT.2z. 1914. 1,208,746.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916. v

2 SHEETS*SHEET I.

' Jrmw (6252132 J. W. GAVANAGH.

REVERSING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICALLY OPERATED WASHING MACHINES.

APPLI CATIQN FJLED 0[ IT, 27 1914.

Patented Dec. 19,1916.

2SHEETSSHEET 2.

1- L f I] I I I ELI UNITED STATES PATENT'OFFIOE.

JOHN W. CAVANLGH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR-TO MAR Y E. GUGEL, OF-

OAKHURST, NEW JERSEY.

BEVERSING MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICALLY-OPERATED WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 19, 1916.

Application filed October 27, 1914. Serial No. 868,800.

' a citizen. of the United States, residing at verse direction.

the city of New York, borough of Manhattan, county and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Revers ing Mechanism for Electrically-Operated Washirig-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention is a reversing mechanism especially adapted for use in connection with a rotatable cylinder of a washing .machine intended to be operated by a suitable motor, preferably by an electric motor, the armature ofwhich rotates in one direction continuously. I

The invention. embodies a load carrier in the form of a cylinder mounted for rotative movement. a motor oft-he kind specified, and an automatic reversing gear whereby rota tion is imparted to the load-carrying cylinder first in one direction and th ir a re- -(')wing to the momentum acquireiby the cylinder, particularly should it be. loaded heavily, there is a tendency on the part of certain. elements composing the reversing gear to become wed ed fast one to the other at the period of shi ting from one direction to the other, as a result of which an excessive load is thrown on the motor and the latter is liable to burn out. To prevent this condition, I employ yielding connecting means in the engaging parts of the reversing gear; as will be hereinafter fully explained.

I Other features and advantages of the i-nder is positioned, the motor-driven mecha- .mechanis-nifthe plane of nism being shown in elevation. Fig. 2 is a cross section through the tub on the'line 2-2 of Fi 1, the cylinder being illustrated in dotted Fig. 3 is a plan View of a part of the cylinder and'a part of the tub lllustratingone of the saddles and hangers for supporting an end portion of the cylinder shaft. Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional plan view 0f the driving and reversing I the section being indicated. bythe dotted line 44 of Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the automatic reversing mechanism for imparting the oscillating motion to the washing cylinder. Fig. 6 -is cross section on the line 6-6 of Fig. ,4. Fig. 7 is a detail sectional View through the shifting clutch member. Fig. 8 is a detail view showing an extension hub for one end of the'cylinder.

A designates a load-carrier to which rotative movement, first in one direction and then in an opposite direction, is adapted to be applied by the agency of a motor and a train of reversing gears, the latter being operated automatically. Said load-carrier is shown as a washing cylinder of suitable dimensions and material. The cylinder A is provided with perforations a for the free flow of water through it as said cylinder rotates within a receptacle, the latter being shown in the drawings as a stationary wash tub B. This wash tub is of any suitable form now installed as a plumbing appliance in buildings, apartments and other places, some of which tubs are composed of enameled iron. The cylinder is provided with a movable cover section a to enable access to be obtained to the chamber of said cylinder for the purpose of placing the clothes therein or removing them therefrom. As shown, the cylinder is provided with an! axial shaft C, the end portions of which extend beyond the res ective cylinderheads, whereby said shaft is adapted to be supported in suitable openings doonstituting shaft bearings in, the hangers D D. Said hangers are positioned within the tub near opposite side walls thereof, but the hangers" are notin contact with the walls of the tub, the lower ends of the hangers terminating a suitable distance above thebottom of the tub. Thehangers ar or may be, in the form shown more particularly in Fig. 2, wherein (8, indicates a loop-shaped foot, d avertica-l -shank, and d a laterally extending arm at the upper extremity-" ef the hanger, said hanger being provided-ontlie substantially U-shaped casting adapted to be edge of the tub, one

placed in a vertical leg of thesaddle being in contact with the inner surface of the i and sup I position over' the top I of the load-carrying or drum A is positioned in the opening 03 of the hangers so as to conmeet the drum to the hangers. The saddles E having been placed in position upon the tub and clamped thereon by the screws the operator new places the hangers and the drum within the tub, thus bringing the arm i of the hangers into engagement with the saddles, whereupon the bolts f are applied.

in order to fasten the hangers: rigidly to the saddles. The motor and the reversible driving gear are supported on one of; the saddles by the plate F, the shaft K being geared to the cylinder shaft. With the clutch L in a position intermediate the two gears I J,-the motor G will operate to drive the shaft H and both gears-I J, but in the described posi tion of the clutch power is not communicatedto the drum The clothes having been deq'ioisited in the drum and the necessary water supplied to the tub, the machine is in condiion for operation. The clutch L is shifted in one direction, as to the left in Fig. 4:, so the pin or is in engagement with the pin a of gear I, whereupon the motor drives through the gear I and clutch L to communicate motion to shaft K and thus turn the cylinder in one direction. This rotation is continued until such time as the Worm Q turns shaft P and cam P for the cam to in part movement to the shipper rod 0 and thus disengage the pin m of theolutch from the pin 2' of the gear I, whereupon the clutch is shifted so that its pin'm engages with pin j of gear J, whereby the motor drives through the gear J and the clutch L so as to reverse the direction of rotation of the faces-i or 7' of the fixed pins i or j, thus allowing the cylinder to expend its momentum before the clutch pin of the clutch member will again be brought into position for conshaft, whereby the cylinder will be rotated lo an opposite direction. It will be noted that when the clutch is disengaged from one gear the cylinder continues to turn and when the clutch engages with the other gear -.the

acquired momentum of the cylinder has a tendency to wedge or bind the parts so tightly together as to offer undue resistance to the motor. This'objection is overcome in my invention by providing the yielding clutch pins m, m on the shiftable clutch member. Should the acquired momentum of the cylinder have a tendency to cause undue binding or tight frictional engagement of the parts the yielding clutch pin m or m of the clutch member will' slide into its chamber and move past the fixeg clutch pin on the gear by rea son of the' "eveled face m of the spring actuated pins 1n or'm' riding over the beveled provide .a, cylinder of a tact with. the fixed clutch pin on the gear,

and this takes place when the clutch is shifted in one direction or the other.

It .will be noted from the foregoing de-. scription taken in'connection with the drawings that the load-carrier or cylinder is automatically rotated in one direction for a predetermined length of time and thereafter said l0ad-carrier or cylinder is rotated for another predetermined len th of time and in an opposite direction. .his reversal in the direction of rotation of the load-carrier or cylinder tends to tumble the clothes within the cylinder and to prevent them from massing to such an extent as to preclude the iicw of soapy water throu h the cylinder,

the described operation faci itates the washing of the clothes and reducing the time required.

The entire appliance may be easily and quickly positioned on a tub and as readily dismounted therefrom. The cylinder is made in sizes to suit different tubs, for the reason that I do not find it'desirable to employ a cylinder of one size to fit-tubs of different dimensions.

In. Fi 8 the cylinder is shown as being with an extension hub whereby predetermined length may be supported within tubs the length of which may vary from one to three inches or more. At one end, the cylinder should be provided with a journal (not shown), but at the opposite end it is rovided with an extension journal, so calle Such journal comprises a sleeve R, a spindle R and an adjusting nut r. The sleeve is flanged at r and attached firmly t0 the cylinder, on the interior t1 ereof. This sleeve is internally threaded, and within it is screwed a threaded part of the spindle R, the latterbeing plain or unthreaded for a part of its length. The not is screwed on the threaded part of the spindle and abuts againstthe head of the cylinder. The cylinder is supported in the hangers by the journal at one end and the spindle at'the other end, a cotter pin "r being passed through the spindle to retain it in position. Should it happen that the hangers are spaced too far apart by reason of the tub being larger than the cylinder and its journals, then the nut r is rotated to turn the spindle in. the sleeve until the spindle is ext nded the requireddistance to make up thediiference, thus enabling one size of cylinder to be used in tubs of diflerent sizes.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: z

1. In a reversible drive mechanism, the.

eombination with a power shaft, and a driven shaft adapted to impart motion to a part t be. driven, of reversible mechanism positioned intermediate said power shaft and the driven shaft. said reversible mechanism embodying a plurality of gear. mounted loosely on the driven shaft, said gears heing positioned in facing relation to each other and provided on their opposing faces I with clnteh pins. a elateh naanher aplined to the driven shaft and positi ned intermediate said fat-int: gearm said elateh memher being provided with yieldahle elnteh ,pins in the path of which are positioned r ,thi -rluteh pins of said facing gears. mean; '11,]: operating the elatt-h memher at Intel" 'vah; so as to disengage itfrom one gear and 'In'altejtfast with the other gea r alternately. and means operated by the power shaft for 2" driving! said gears. said elateh .pins of the elnteh member heing: yieltlalde to eontnt't with a clutch pin of one gear or the other under aeqnired momentnm'ot the part to he driven tranemitted through the driven shaft.

ln a reversible drive nieehanism. the comhination with a power shaft. and a driven shattadapted to impart motion to a part to he driven. of a plurality of gears 1:0 mounted lunStl) on said driven shaft. said gears heingi in facing relation. a eluteh Hltltlla-r aplined to the driven shaft and posilioned internn-diate said faring gears so :lfi to he inaddfast' with either gear. means l' r 3 driving: said ears. a shipper rod slidahly supported ndjarent to the driven shaft is provided with a \'tlltt' having spared anti fl'irtion rollers. meansronneet'ing said shipper rod with the elnteh meinher l'oriinpart- 4" ing sliding movement to the latter. a shaft mounted separately from the driven shaft. a ram rotatahle with said separately mountied shaft. said ('IHII lieing positioned within the. yolte. and between the rollers of the shipper rod and operating to impart. reeip roeating movement. thereto. a warm on the d rivon shaft. and a worm gear on the separatelv mounted shaft whereby the worm and warm egear cooperate in driving: the. sepa r-a rately monnted shaft from the driven shaft.

3. in a reversible drive. nwehanism. the coalhination with a power shaft, and a driven shaft adapted to impart motion to a part to be driven. ot a pln 'a lily of gears loose on the driven shaft. a eluteh meinher splined an the driven shaft and positioned intermediate said gears. means for driving the gears,

rhnehing means on the gears and elntching' ineanx on oppo nite sides of the clutch memher to altermilely engage the. gears for coupling said elateh member to one gear or the other aecording as the driven shaft is tobe rotated in one direction or the other, said elntehing: means of the elntelrmember being axially yiehlahle to acquit-"ed'nnanentmn of the part to be driven transmitted through the driven shaft for preelnding nn'dne frictional eontat-t by eansing: slip at the moment of engagementl)tl\\'t'(ll the clutch member and one of said gears.

4-. in a reversible drive mechanism. the eolnhination with a dri\'ing r--g1ear.v a driven shaft having spaced driven gears loosely mounted thereon and meshing with the drivin; gear. rlntth pins on the driven gears. a elateh IlllllllNl' Hplined on the driven shaft and having yieldahle pins to eoaet wit-h the pio.\- ol' the driven gears. nieehanism for rt t-iproeating the elnteh member to alternately engage the elnteh pins. and llltitllFHQll the driven shat'tx for :u-tnating' said mechanism.

a. In a reversible drive meuhanismQ the 'ulltlilllillltlll with a driving gear. a driven shaft. having Spitt't'tl driven gears loosely mounted thereon and Jneshimg with the driving: gear. elnteh pins on the driven gears, a 'lntrh menther splint-d 0n the driven shaft and havin; yieldalde pins to enact with the pins at the driven gears, a shipper rod connertetl. with said elnteh member and pr vided with a yoke, a 'tltll mounted for movement in said yolte to shift the shipper rod and elnteh metnher. and lltttlllsd'tltlltflllle by the driven shaft for imparting movement to said earn.

in testimony whereof I have signed my name to thh speeitieation in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN \V. (.VVA'NAGH. ll'itnesaqesz ll. I. linammnn, M. C. Romnormz. 

